The Illinois Senate has advanced new legislation to improve accessibility and inclusivity for individuals with disabilities and their caregivers in public spaces to the House.
Senate Bill 1089, also known as Sami’s Law, would require the State Capitol building and all of the state’s rest stops to install at least one publicly accessible adult changing station.
Sami’s Law, sponsored by Senator Sue Rezin, was created as an initiative of one of Sen. Rezin’s district staffers, Renee Abraham. The bill is named after Renee’s 26-year-old daughter, who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Renee was granted the opportunity to testify during the hearing.
The legislation was first introduced during a subject matter hearing in the Senate Executive Committee and was later amended into another bill to allow its passage.